A PURE PHILOSOPHY Let your soul run free at Vamed Vitality World, Austria. FASTING: THE FACTS All you need to know in our new Wellbeing 360 series

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1 THE NO.1 MAGAZINE FOR SPA AND WELLNESS Issue 63 April/May 2018 A PURE PHILOSOPHY Let your soul run free at Vamed Vitality World, Austria FASTING: THE FACTS All you need to know in our new Wellbeing 360 series IN SWEET HARMONY The sumptuous city sanctuary inside Ten Trinity Square, UK EXPERT GUIDE: NAILS How you can provide perfect manicures and pedicures

2 Six Senses Hotels 6

3 The secret of healing The fifth Healing Summit welcomed an international delegation to Rocco Forte Hotel De Rome in Berlin. European Spa shares some of the forward-thinking event s most memorable moments REPORT BY SARAH CAMILLERI This year s Healing Summit, organised by the team at Healing Hotels of the World, attracted a 130-strong international delegation from 27 countries, including over 30 hoteliers and a notable mix of wellbeing consultants, healing practitioners, innovative product and equipment companies and media representatives. Taking place at Rocco Forte s elegant Hotel De Rome, Berlin, this intimate gathering was again seamlessly moderated by US journalist Valerie Smaldone, who welcomed guests to the historic city which, she remarked, epitomises change and transformation themes reflected in the fifth Healing Summit agenda. Summit co-founder Anne Biging, who is dedicated to opening up holistic health and transformative travel, urged the delegation to think beyond the current wellness conversation and embrace healing in every aspect of hospitality, business practice and daily life. Is healing really a radical idea? Or is it the most optimistic outlook for the future? she asked. Heart-Earth connections Under a theme of The Secret of Healing, the Summit s enjoyable two-day programme was packed with inspired talks interspersed with meditation, yoga, break-out and networking sessions a unique format designed to explore a more holistic approach to life and business. No stranger to challenging the status quo, Ken Redcross MD, the American founder of Redcross Concierge, shared how his frustration with a lack of patient consultation time led him to launch a full-spectrum healthcare service, 1. Delegates connect and share aspirations 2. Guest moderator, broadcaster Valerie Smaldone 3. Wellbeing Escapes Stella Photi in conversation with Diana Stobo of The Retreat Costa Rica, and Corinna Yap from COMO Shambhala. The Healing Summit 2018 speakers and team 5. NextLevel Leadership s Catherine Parrish 6. Fischer Travel Enterprises Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal 7. Delegates practice hatha yoga with Patricia Thielemann Healing is a glimpse of the infinite. Its about the truth. It s about changing our hearts, our minds and our habits Dr Elisabeth Ixmeier and Anne Biging Co-founders, The Healing Summit which includes holistic services and wellness counselling. A rebel with heart, he told how his desire to touch souls and really connect with patients, has achieved remarkable results, often without prescribing medication. Also championing a more holistic approach to health from a medical standpoint, neuroscientist Dr Marjorie Woollacott highlighted scientific research to measure how the practice of meditation can potentially strengthen the delivery of healing modalities such as Reiki. Having access to complementary medicine has become an increasing desire across all generations and cultural strata, she concluded, outlining how healing businesses could incorporate meditation into their daily practices. Inspiring change Meditation was a recurring theme throughout the Summit and the story of Australian meditation expert Steve Griffith, leader of Success without Stress meditation programmes and founder of Sukhavati Ayurvedic Retreat & Spa in Bali, was certainly inspiring. We give people the opportunity to think deeply about their past and how they want to move forward, he explained. It inspires change. Our routines create resilience and intelligence. We have 70 people working for us and see 2,000 people a year through our programmes, including from banks, financial institutions and football clubs, all meditating before important meetings, training sessions or key events. Griffiths had a positive message for the Summit, stating: In most organisations, no one is consciously choosing self-awareness yet, but the world is changing. For all of us in the healing business this is a very exciting time a time to think big. We are all sitting on something very important. Paths of purpose Wise words from humanitarian Catherine Parish, founder of NextLevel Leadership, resonated with delegates as she told how collaboration creates prosperity, asking everyone to consider how our relationship with money may be holding us back in life and business. Leadership and communication trainer Velleda Dobrowolny echoed this sentiment, asking the Summit to focus on righteousness, ethics, responsibility, duty and virtue. International spa brand [comfort zone] s general manager Brian Brazeau focused on how striving to achieve B Corp accreditation had been transformational for him and his team. A growing community now includes around 2,100 Certified B Corp companies from 50 countries and over 130 industries, working towards one unifying goal: to redefine success in business. Joining B Corp was an eye opener for us we really had an a-ha! moment as it was so aligned with our values, revealed Brazeau. The changes that it has brought to the company are very much about mindset. Our ideas are not always profitable, but about doing what s best and it works, he revealed. 65

4 Focus on creativity Fellow Canadian Jocelyna Dubuc, who founded iconic destination Spa Eastman in Montreal 0 years ago, revealed how her passion to deliver transformative experiences has always seen her through challenging times. When I travelled India, I dreamed of creating a place that would be life-changing. I had no model and no money. It actually grew organically without a plan, she stated. We always needed money but it has never been a problem for me. The main challenge is to find the right people and keep them. Another challenge was that the banks did not believe in a woman running the business they were always looking for the man behind me. It was a big lesson for me and sometimes I was very alone, but I found my friends were always around me, she recalled. Her message to the Summit was: Many people lose their creativity. You must remain creative as life always changes. A lot of companies just look at the bottom line but more and more we have to ensure the decisions we make are right for the people we work with, as well as the people we serve. Soul luxury Focusing on elite travellers, an insightful conversation between Soul Luxury founder Claudia Roth and Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal, president of Fischer Travel Enterprises, looked at the importance of delivering superlative hospitality service and experiences. Our mission statement is nothing is impossible, said Fischer-Rosenthal, who revealed that to become a client of her exclusive New York-based business commands a $150,000 ( 107,000/e122,000) membership fee with an additional $25,000 annual fee. We have to stay fresh and innovative, she reflected. The luxury traveller wants experiences that speak to the heart and to travel with those they love... So many clients call me to say I am exhausted. People want to take a step back, a pause. The world has woken up to healing and wellbeing, concurred Roth, an expert in luxury travel who has dedicated 25 years to the world s most prestigious hotel portfolios. Wellbeing tourism is exploding. The luxury traveller wants transformation and change. Global consciousness is rising and this is creating a shift in luxury travel and mindset. A global vision A panel of wellness leaders, including Stella Photi, founder of Wellbeing Escapes; Diana Stobo, founder of The Retreat Costa Rica; and Corinna Yap, wellness director of COMO Shambhala, discussed what healing means in their respective markets. Our average client is between 0-55 and they find out when they come to us that it s not about fluff, spa and getting their nails done. It s about surrendering to nature no TV or WiFi. We also have a really strong millennial base, said Stobo. 1. Gharieni s Quartz treatment table 2. Neuroscientist Dr. Marjorie Woollacott 3. Steve Griffith of Sukhavati Ayurvedic Retreat & Spa, Bali. Dr Ken Redcross of Redcross Concierge 5. Delegates enjoy an informative presentation

5 Some of The Healing Summit team 2. Isabelle Duchesneau of Le Monastère des Augustines, Canada 3. Patrizia Bortolin from The Euphoria Retreat. Healing Summit co-founder Dr Elisabeth Ixmeier interviews [comfort zone] s Brian Brazeau and Spa Eastman s Jocelyna Dubuc 3 For her part, Yap explained: In Asia it s more about DIY experiences for millennials who will Airbnb and book their own yoga and surfing. However, we have more Koreans coming to try out COMO in Bali, but from a trendier beauty perspective. In Singapore we are also noticing that mental stress and wellbeing is now something people are comfortable to talk about previously it was very taboo. Our guests are looking to explore something different, something with more medical roots to healing. Bringing the focus back to Europe, Stella Photi said: Seventy percent of clients are single travellers people really value being alone. We are seeing more and more people booking retreats from a mental and emotional perspective, so they can get on with their lives. Brand kudos and connections Founder of Kyricos & Associates, Mia Kyricos reminded delegates that, according to the latest figures from the Global Wellness Institute, they are all active players in the $3.7 trillion worldwide wellness industry. Collectively, our business is three times the size of the pharmaceutical industry worldwide, Kyricos claimed. As a branding specialist, she asked delegates to consider the importance of creating a strong healing brand. There is so much noise out there in the wellness space, you need to think about what your brand really stands for, she urged. Shut your brains off and turn your minds and souls on the difference between good brands and great brands are the ones that have an ethereal feeling to them. Spa business consultant Lisa Starr asked delegates to take a closer look at their service offering, communication and connection with guests. An expert in auditing spas and healing destinations, Starr highlighted the importance of monitoring macro trends, such as mental wellness, clean air, security, personalisation and the desire for social experiences. She urged resort owners to think about their guest journey. How do we deliver the most value for guests? she enquired. Having a beautiful property is not enough its what happens once the guest arrives that matters. Noble intentions Award-winning spa director and mentor Patrizia Bortolin shared her unique talent to take retreat guests to a deeper level of self-understanding. Currently preparing for the June opening of The Euphoria Retreat in Greece (see News p18), she stressed the importance of nurturing staff and understanding their signature strengths and wellbeing. From an event packed with notable speakers and proactive breakout sessions, the last word has to go to Summit co-founder Anne Biging, who said: For me healing is a glimpse into the infinite. It s about the truth. It s about changing our hearts, our minds, our habits. We are here to reveal the secret of healing. The strongest force in the universe is in our hearts to share love and work together. We can choose this mind set, she stated, setting out the noble inspiration behind this unique annual event. #healingsummit